Improvement in velocipedes



BALDWIN & MILLER. Velocipede.

No. 90.220. Patented May 18, 1869.

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waited ,States laizntwi @Wire team Patent No. 90,220, dated May 1s, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN VELOCIPEDES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all 'whom 'it may concern Be it known that we, Anvrnn O. BALDWIN and CHARLES H. Minnen., of Lincoln, in the county of Logan, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Velocipedes; and we do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full and correct description oi' the saine, sufficient lto enable others skilled in the manufacture to which our invention appertains, to

fully understand and construct the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which make part of' this specification, and in which- Figure l is a side elevation oi' a velocipedc, with our invention applied to it;

Figure 2 is a plan of the `spring, in which our invention consists, showing the stirrup, or treadle with which to work it, and the slotted rod, for gauging the working oi the spring; and

Figure 3 is a plan of the guidingdevcr, as attached to the rear, or guiding-wheel.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each ofthe figures.

'lhe nature of our invention consists in the application ot' a spring or springs to a velocipede, extending from a fixed support at the rear wheel, to the cranks ofthe front wheel, on one or both sides, and being operated by a'stirrup or stirrnps attached to them,and working on, or by a guide-rod, which gauges the play of thespring to just sulicient movement to throw the crank aro und and, also, in the application of the combined levers, for guiding a velocipede bv the rear wheel.

ln the drawings- A represents the rear, and

B, ythe front wheel of a veloeipede of common coustruction.

Extending from the fixed support E-which is an inrerted U-shaped piece oi' iron, or any other suitable material, fitted at right angles with the connectingreach, and with it fitting on to the pivot of the guiding-post over the rear, or guiding-wheel A--to the crank C, on the front wheel B, is aeurved flat spring, D, thickened, or, rounded at the rear end, where it is tiistenerlint'o the fixed support E.

F is a rod, or bar, to guide and gauge the working ofthe spring D, of suitable construction; and

' G is the stirrup, or treadle, which is attached to the central part ofthe spring D, in a position to be easily reached and worked by the operator.

The guiding-handle H is attached to the lever K, which is a hinged lever, with hinge near the centre, extending from a pivot at or near the front of the saddle L, on which it is fixed, with a slot-shaped hole to give it play forward and back, in working the hinge to the guide-post over the hind wheel, which gives the guiding the saine effect as though the guide-wheel were in front.

It will be easily understood, that when the person riding the velocipede has forced the crank downward with his foot, the action of the spring will complete the turn of the crank during that part of the turn when the foot does not exert any power on the crank.

IVe are aware that the application of a spring to carry a crank over the dead-centres, is not new, and this we do not claim; but

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The arrangement of the springs D, with one end in the hangers 1 3, and with the other attached to the cranks C, and provided with stirrup G, sliding in guide F, as described and shown.

ARVIDE O. BALDWIN.V CHARLES H. MILLER. Witnesses:

DAVID H. HARTS, E. WRIGHT. 

